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BMC Infectious Diseases
Published in: BMC Infectious Diseases 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Case report

Acute-phase diagnosis of murine and scrub typhus in Belgian travelers by polymerase chain reaction: a case report

Authors: Caroline Theunissen, Lieselotte Cnops, Marjan Van Esbroeck, Ralph Huits, Emmanuel Bottieau

Published in: BMC Infectious Diseases | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Rickettsiosis is a potential life threatening infectious disease in travelers. Clinical recognition is not always straightforward, as typical manifestations such as rash and/or eschar may be absent. Definite diagnosis is based on seroconversion and therefore often delayed until the convalescent phase of disease.

Case presentation

In this case report, we describe four patients with severe travel-related rickettsiosis (two patients with murine- and two patients with scrub typhus), in whom acute- phase diagnosis was possible by real-time polymerase chain reaction on serum or blood.

Conclusions

Despite its limitations, we think that polymerase chain reaction can contribute significantly to the early diagnosis and treatment of rickettsial disease in travelers.
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Metadata
Title
Acute-phase diagnosis of murine and scrub typhus in Belgian travelers by polymerase chain reaction: a case report
Authors
Caroline Theunissen
Lieselotte Cnops
Marjan Van Esbroeck
Ralph Huits
Emmanuel Bottieau
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Infectious Diseases / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2334
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-017-2385-x

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